Shoe shank stiffener



Jan. 31, 1933.v c. .1. HAUCK SHOE SHANK STIFFENER Filed Aug. 13. 1931rNvENToR y Cil/arles J Hama/;

Patented Jan. 31, 1933 A UNITED STATES PATENToFFIcI-z CHARLES J'. HAUCK,OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, .ASSIGNOB TO THE SELBY SHOE COMPANY, l

OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, A CORPORATION `O15' OHIO SHOE sHANK STIFFENERApplication ieangust 13, 1 931. seriai No. 556,783.

My invention relates to shoe shank stiifen-V ers and particularly toshoe shank stiifeners for turn-shoes. y

In the manufacture of turn-shoes, the outsole is laid with its outersurface against the last and the upper with its outer surface againstthe last. After the upper 1s secured inside out to the outsole, the lastis collapsed and the upper removed and replacedback on the last after ithas been reversed; that is, with the grain surface of the upper and theinner surface of the sole against the last. Prior to reinserting theshoe on the last, the

shank stiffener is inserted and it is the shank '15 stiifener whichdetermines the shape of the shoe in the arch portion.

Heretofore, shank stiifeners have i been made by cutting out pieces ofleather or other y iieXible material and securing to the leather 20`piece, usually underneath, a metal stiifener piece. The metal stienerpiece bends the eXible piece so that it conforms to the shape of thestiifener. The shank stiifener is then inserted within the shoe and isheld to the inner surface of the shoe sole by an adhesive. The shoe isthen replaced on the last and the operation of forming the outsole inthe arch portion so as to fill up the space between the shank stiffenerand the inner surface of the sole is performed.

In order to have the shank stiifener fit snugly down against the innersurface of the sole, pieces of flexible material are usually employed.Since however, it has been customary to provide the metallic shank piecewith a rib extending out from its concave side, considerable space isordinarily taken up by the combination of the flexible piece and themetal piece which together form the L shank stiffener.

Accordingly it has been difficult to secure a close bond between theunder surface of the stiifener and the inner surface of the sole whichtends to make the shoe uncomfortable to the wearer and which preventsthe foot from fitting snugly down within ythe shoe. Further, a looselyfitting shank stilfener tends to make the upper of the shoe bulge outvand form'- unsightly wrinkles alongthey sides of tle upper .extendingdown to the arch of the s oe.

it is an object of my invention to reduce the space between the innersurface of thev sole and the upper .securedv to the sole and the undersurface of the shank stiffener.'` Itv In my `new lshank 'stiffenerconstruction, l I' thus provide fa better lineto the Vedge of the solein the shank portion vofv the shoebecause there being less space thanordinary between the sole and the shank stifener7 the sole requires lessbending and beating up to fill in this space. V y

It is an object of my invention to provide a shank stiifenerV which willhave substantial y thickness along its longitudinal medial line sothatthe edges of the flexible portion may be skived" off to fill incompletely the space between the edges of the stiffener and the innersurfaces of the shoe upper Where it is attached to the sole. Y

,Another 'obj ect of my invention is the provision of a flexible portionfor the stiifener with a metalstiffener piece' ofsubstantially 1 rigidconstruction.

Another object of 'my invention is to pro-y vide ya shank stiffenerwhich will permitthe.v

sole portion under the heel to'fit more closely than has been customaryto the lastpsoas to permit a stronger and more close fitting bondbetween the heel and the sole andv which further reduces the amount ofthe sole which is necessary to cut away for the proper fitting of a Woodheel.

The above objects, it is my purpose to accomplish 1by providing aflexible stiii'ener piece provided with a groove within which themetalstiffener is countersunk; y The above objects and other objects to swhich reference will be made in the ensuing `l disclosure I accomplishby that certain com.

bination and arrangement of parts of which I haveshown a preferredembodiment'.

' Referring'to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a shank stiffenerv arrangedk in conformitywith the present in,-

vention and with the proper position 'of the shank stiifener within a`shoe indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the {inexv tersunk grooves or recesses`for receiving the stiiener.

Y Figure 3 is a cross section of the iiexibley member shown in Figuref2taken along the 225,5 lines 3-3 n Figure 4 is a sectional view takenalong the lines 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5 5 in Figure 1.

the

n 4,93iribextending out on its longitudinally concave side hasinturnededges v13 which tand are countersunk in recesses 12 which areformed in the vunder surface of theiexible piece lO. v

i 4?; VAt its ends themetal piece 11 is provided with the tineslt whichseat themselvesfirrnly in the leather at the ends of the recesses 12.

VThe metal stiliening piece and the iexible portion thus form aY shankstiii'enerwhich is 50,; of substantial thickness along its longitudinal'medial line but which tapers off to provide thin edge portions forfitting down snugly against the inner surface of thesole. The thin edgesof the stiifener can be securely bondedto theY inner surface of the soleyand the adjacent upper and will conform readily to the desired shapeofthe shoe Vin its arch ortion without leaving any substantial-spacebetween the stiifener and soleto cause def-l G9; ormation oftheappearanceof the shoe.-

Having ,thus described my invention, what.

I have provided a iiexible piece l() shapedv in the under side thereofextending length- Wise thereof, and a rigid member inserted within saidgrooves.

2. A shank stiifener comprising a leather insert to cover the heel-seatand the shank 7 portion of a shoe adapted for insertion within a shoeafter the same has been formed, said insert being provided withlongitudinal grooves extending lengthwise thereof, and a rigid metalmember having its edges embedded in the said grooves.

3. A shank stiffener comprising a leather insert to cover the heel-seatand the shank l portion` of a shoe adapted for insertion Within a shoeafter the same has been formed, said insert being provided. j withlongitudinal grooves extending lengthwise thereof, a rigid V metalmember having its edges embedded in the said grooves, and means forpermanently 20 ible portion of the stiffener showing the coun;

.tions at the ends of the said means.

attaching'said metal member'to said leather 85;

insert.` p, v

l In combination with a turn-shoe, aflexible insertl of substantialthicknessalong its medial line and with thin peripheral edges, and meansset within thek substantially thick A" medial portion determining thelongitudinal curvature of said insert, said means having a reenforcingrib extending Lfrom its longitudinally concave sideV tapering oif intoflat por..

y .95; J. HAUCK.

I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters .l

Y Patent, is: v, Y n,

l. A shankstiffener comprising a flexible 6.5'I ,insert,said insertbeingprovided with, groovesr

